Dianna Russini reports that Minnesota will bring in a quarterback, with one league source floating a potential reunion with Cousins.
It's no secret that the Minnesota Vikings struggled mightily at quarterback in 2025. J.J. McCarthy, drafted one month after Kirk Cousins signed with the Atlanta Falcons, appeared in only ten games this season, throwing 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
The expectation is that the Vikings will, at worst, bring in a veteran quarterback to compete with McCarthy for the starting spot in 2026. More optimistic fans will be hoping for a blockbuster trade that lands someone like Joe Burrow.
But reality can be humbling. Dianna Russini of The Athletic said that not only are the Vikings expected to bring in a quarterback, but that a league source wonders if a reunion with Cousins is an option.
That may not be the most exhilarating development for some fans. Cousins was a polarizing figure in Minnesota before McCarthy was drafted. While he never struggled to the degree that McCarthy did in 2025, there was a widespread belief that Cousins never lived up to the expectations of his massive contracts.
There may be some truth to that, as Cousins was signed months after the Vikings were obliterated 38-7 in the NFC Championship Game in January 2018. Cousins signed a fully guaranteed three-year, $84 million deal. He was supposed to bring stability to the quarterback position and help elevate Minnesota to the Super Bowl.
Instead, the Vikings missed the playoffs in 2018, and their playoff run in 2019 ended in the Divisional Round after a 27-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Minnesota missed the playoffs the next two years, firing head coach Mike Zimmer. In came Kevin O'Connell, and the Vikings' passing attack flourished.
Cousins played some of the best football of his career in 2023, throwing 18 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions. He completed 69.5% of his passes for 2,331 yards, helping the Vikings to a 4-4 record after an 0-3 start.
Then, he tore his Achilles tendon in their Week 8 victory over the Green Bay Packers, ending his season. Further complicating Cousins' return was that he was 35 years old. With the strong 2024 NFL Draft on the horizon, it appeared that Cousins' time in Minnesota may be coming to an end.
He signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons, allowing the Vikings to move on and sign Sam Darnold and draft McCarthy.
Times have changed, though. The Vikings wouldn't be bringing Cousins in to be the franchise's savior. He's going to be 38 when the season starts, and he has experience in O'Connell's system. At worst, he'd provide a smart, veteran presence in the quarterback room to push McCarthy.
Cousins also began the 2025 season on the bench, so he shouldn't expect to start if he goes back to Minnesota. He very well could, provided he outperforms McCarthy in camp. But Cousins' feelings won't be hurt if McCarthy wins the job.
It may feel a bit ironic to bring back the veteran quarterback whom McCarthy replaced. But circumstances change quickly in the NFL, and a blind resumé may suggest that Cousins is the perfect fit for the Vikings in 2026.
Comfort isn’t always complacency. Sometimes, it’s stability—and after 2025, that might be exactly what the Vikings need.